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Banksy art Girl with Balloon
Photograph: Supplied
Photograph: Supplied

The best things to do in Sydney this weekend

Hello weekend, we're ready for you

Avril Treasure
Edited by Avril Treasure
Editor, Time Out Sydney
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Keen for a fun weekend? You've come to the right place. 

A new Banksy exhibition has landed in Sydney, featuring more than 250 provocative works by the world-famous elusive street artist – and it looks v cool.

If there’s one thing you do this weekend, book tickets and go see ‘My Brilliant Career’ – a joyous Australian show at STC’s Roslyn Packer Theatre. I went the other week and it is BLOODY BRILLIANT. Sorry for the caps – I just love it that much. Read our reviewer’s five-star piece here and get your tickets here. Want more? These are the best shows to see in Sydney this month.

Easter may be done, but the Sydney Royal Easter Show is still here this weekend. I'm going on Saturday – may see you there.

The 25th Biennale of Sydney (named among the best exhibitions in the world for 2026) is back. There’s a lot to see and experience – and the best part is that it’s here for two months, so you don’t need to tackle it all in one day. Free Friday night? Art After Dark is going down at White Bay Power Station – one of Syd's coolest venues – with gigs, art and food.

Plus, take a dip at one of Sydney’s best beaches, enjoy some fish and chips and make the most of the air con at an exhibition. Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat and Ron Mueck: Encounter – both showing at the AGNSW – are my picks.

If you'd like to spend some time in nature, check out our guide to the best walks in Sydney – BYO snacks and hat. If you're up for a road trip, you can also cool off with our guide to the most magical swimming holes in NSW. Or clock a few saltwater laps with our guide to Sydney's best ocean pools. 

And if you want more boozy fun, you can work your way through Sydney's best bars here. Oh, and you can suss Sydney’s best restaurants and best affordable eats too.

Hope you have a cracking weekend.

Weather not looking so hot? Check out our list of the best things to do indoors in Sydney.

Looking for weekday fun? These are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

The best things to do this weekend

Sydney Royal Easter Show

  • Things to do
  • Sydney Olympic Park
  • Recommended
Sydney Royal Easter Show
Sydney Royal Easter Show
Photograph: Supplied
Roll up, roll up! The 2026 Sydney Royal Easter Show is back from April 2-13 with all the old-time favourites and some new treats. Get ready for woodchopping contests, livestock competitions, showbags galore, roller coaster rides, stunt cars, fresh fruit and vegetable displays, cake decorating comps and fireworks at 8.50pm nightly. Whether it’s your first time or a long-standing family tradition, it’s time to make your way to Sydney Showground. Did you know that the Easter Show dates back to 1823? Hosted by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS), it celebrates the hard work of our NSW farmers and producers and gives us city folk a chance to see farmyard animals and fresh produce up close and personal.  Make sure you line up to see the cutest baby animals, catch those cowboys at the rodeo and marvel at world-class show jumping. There's sheep and alpaca shearing, dog shows, tractor rides and panning for gold, plus more than 400 different breeds in the livestock competitions.  There’s also the carnival area with thrilling rides like the Cliff Hanger, Crazy Cars, Extreme Speed, Rebel Coaster and more. Prefer something more nostalgic? Take a spin on the classic Helter Skelter, dodgem cars or the carousel.  Make time to check out the incredible entries in photography, art, woodworking, pottery, and the most beautifully decorated cakes you’ve ever seen at The Arts and Crafts Pavilion. You also can’t go past the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome for all the freshest fruit and veg...
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Free Family Movie Nights in Parramatta

  • Cinemas
  • Parramatta
Free Family Movie Nights in Parramatta
Free Family Movie Nights in Parramatta
Photograph: Supplied | Destination NSW
Let’s face it: heading to the cinema ain’t cheap these days – add a choc top into the mix and yeesh, you may as well take out a second mortgage. Luckily, Parramatta has the answer once again for families keen to get out and about without blowing the budget. The city’s much-loved Family Movie Nights are returning in April 2026, bringing a series of free outdoor cinema events to parks across the area. Five local parks and reserves will transform into open-air movie theatres across two weekends during the school holidays, inviting families to roll out the picnic blankets and settle in for a night under the stars. Expect a line-up of recent blockbuster flicks – including A Minecraft Movie and Wicked: For Good – projected onto the big screen. But it’s not just about the movies. Each event kicks off with a festival-style atmosphere before sundown, featuring themed activities, roving performers, food trucks and plenty of inflatable fun (think a giant slide, fun house and even a soccer dart board). There’ll also be hands-on activities inspired by the films, like Minecraft LEGO building, potion and wand making, reptile displays and karate headband decorating. City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the annual event continues to bring communities together for a free night out. “This is about getting our communities together for a free, fun night out with a movie, good food and fun activities,” Cr Zaiter said. “Over the past 10 years, thousands of people have packed a...
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Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Sydney
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
Art Gallery of New South Wales | Mim Stirling
If you've ever wondered what would happen if a kid's drawing of their wildest dream utopia suddenly came off the page and into real life, you're in luck, because that's pretty much what's happening right now beneath the Art Gallery of NSW.  Artist and professional disruptor Mike Hewson has taken over the weird subterranean world of The Tank with his one-of-a-kind new exhibition, Mike Hewson: The Key's Under the Mat, where for the first time ever, all the main lights in the normally pitch-dark Tank will be switched on, revealing a weird wonderland of interactive art pieces and play equipment that have to be seen to be believed. We're talking: A steam room with stained glass windows that you can actually sit in, a functioning sauna with bespoke church pews, five actual operating public barbeques that you can cook on, rushing water to play in (seriously, bring your swimmers), a working laundry,  and a free-to-use recording studio, plus a whole plethora of bright and delightful surprises that are all about getting community together, to do cool stuff, for free. Basically, break your imagination and delete all adult expectations. This is unlike anything we've ever seen.  Kids who aren't afraid of some risk are also one of Hewson's big targets with this show (although parents, rest easy, the floor is specially made out of recycled soft rubber that's rated for use in public playgrounds), with the space also home to a wild children's playground. Intrepid kidlets can test their...

Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Easter Show

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Moore Park
Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Easter Show
Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Easter Show
Photograph: Supplied | Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Show
Just like the Easter school holidays creep up on you, so does the spending on activities to keep the kids entertained. Skip out on the eye-watering ticket prices and pay a visit to the great-value Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Easter Show this autumn. The family affair returns to the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park, set to put the little – and not-so-little – ones in the Easter spirit without costing you a pretty penny. This year, the festivities kick off on Thursday, April 2 and will run until Sunday, April 19. The jam-packed program features everything from high-energy motorcycle and bike stunt shows to adorable little daschund meet and greets, carnival-style games and a carousel the whole family can enjoy. There will also be an adrenaline-pumping obstacle course, dodgem cars, a thrilling reptile show where you can get up close with snakes and crocs, and an animal nursery with cuddly ducklings, chicks, lambs, goats and piglets. Of course, there will be showbags galore too. For the first time, the event welcomes the Outback Jack Stockman Show. This action-packed spectacle features impressive horsemanship, skilled working sheepdogs and thrilling whip-cracking demonstrations. The humorous performance is sure to be a crowd-pleaser — and you might even get to join in the fun with audience participation encouraged. Be sure to go for a wander through the Easter Basket Zone and stock up on some treats. This year they’re hosting a huge easter egg hunt and as long as you...
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Ovata Sundays at Arturo’s Rooftop

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Woolloomooloo
Ovata Sundays at Arturo’s Rooftop
Ovata Sundays at Arturo’s Rooftop
Photograph: Supplied | Oakridge
Make your next Sunday session sparkle with a brunch that screams summer. Taking place on the rooftop of the gorgeously decked out Woolly Bay Hotel, Ovata Sundays promises a whole heap of bubbles and banging tunes.  While you’d be hard pressed to find a decent all-inclusive brunch in Sydney for less than $100, let alone less than $80 – Ovata Sundays delivers on value and good vibes. For just $75, you’ll score a dedicated spritz menu (including a citrusy number and a classic Hugo spritz), Ovata sparkling wine (including the newly launched Ovata by Oakridge Sparkling RosĂ©) and fresh canapĂ©s for an hour and a half – all while a DJ is mixing it up on the decks from 3pm to 5pm.  For nibbling on, there will be pork san choy bow, wagyu sandos, citrus-cured salmon bites and jamon croquettes – don’t mind if we do. If you’re feeling a bit more peckish there are other deliciously paired items you can add-on like South Coast rock oysters and tempura Yamba prawns. Plus, if you like what you’re drinking, you can score special deals on glasses and bottles of Ovata by Oakridge wine on the day.  Rather a mid-week bevvy? Arturo’s is putting on spritz specials from 4.30pm to 5.30pm on Wednesdays to Sundays. Get the crew together for Ovata Sundays on Arturo’s Rooftop from February 15 to April 19 (excluding March 29). Seatings are $75pp – bookable on the hour from midday – and you can lock yours in here.
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Banksy Limitless

  • Art
  • The Rocks
Banksy Limitless
Banksy Limitless
Photograph: Supplied
Thought-provoking. Boundary-pushing. Unapologetically disruptive. The elusive yet world-famous street artist Banksy has another exhibition coming to Sydney. If you missed the chance to see The Art of Banksy: Without Limits at Sydney Town Hall in 2024, you’re in luck. Banksy Limitless opens at The Rocks (155 George Street) on April 1, 2026 for a limited season, following a sold-out run in London.  This new showcase features more than 250 works, large-scale installations, sculptures, digital displays – plus an impressive state-of-the-art hologram experience. Visitors can uncover untold stories behind iconic works including Cinderella at Dismaland, London Zoo and Ice Cream Van, while immersive rooms and bold visual storytelling invite audiences to step inside Banksy’s provocative universe. Renowned for his sharp wit and unflinching social commentary, Banksy continues to challenge perspectives on politics, culture and human rights. In keeping with his humanitarian ethos, a portion of proceeds from Banksy Limitless will support the M.V. Louise Michel, an independent high-speed lifeboat rescuing migrants in distress. So much more than a traditional exhibition, Banksy Limitless is a powerful, multi-sensory experience that will pull you in. Don't miss it.  Ticket prices are from $42 for adults, $30 for children. Get your tickets here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox....
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The Phantom of the Opera

  • Musicals
  • Sydney
  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
Photograph: Daniel Boud
After a cancellation the previous evening due to the raging storm and winds, the opening night of The Phantom of the Opera was looking dire. But magically at the stroke of 6pm, when the team of Opera Australia’s Handa Opera rolled out the red carpet, the rain dissipated and a warm setting sun floated over Sydney Harbour. The Phantom still has magic left up his sleeve after all. Phantom of the Opera on Sydney Harbour represents that age-old maxim, “The show must go on”. And go on The Phantom of the Opera shall! Rain, wind, or sun, the show is at the mercy of nature, but overcoming the natural challenges from Mother Nature makes it all the more thrilling to witness. Every outdoor spectacle presented by Handa Opera is consistently infused with decadence, and this restaging of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic is no different. This is a highbrow spectacle at its most luxurious. What type of show is The Phantom of the Opera? The musical version of the mysteriously masked Phantom living beneath the Paris Opera House has captivated audiences around the world for 40 years. His obsession with the young Christine DaaĂ© and subsequent devious nurturing of her talents has played to more than 160 million people in 58 territories and 205 cities in 21 languages.  As a character, Christine is at the mercy of the men she’s surrounded by. Be it the Phantom’s obsessive love, her saviour in the shape of Raoul, Vicomte De Chagny, or the whims of the new owners of the Paris Opera House, Monsieur...
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Sydney Comedy Festival

  • Comedy
  • Comedy festival
  • Sydney
Sydney Comedy Festival
Sydney Comedy Festival
Photograph: Supplied
With all the doom and gloom in the world today, we sure could use a belly laugh. Good news – the Sydney Comedy Festival is turning 21 and you're invited to the celebrations from April 13 to May 17, 2026. That’s five glorious weeks and more than 400 shows that guarantee plenty of LOLs.  SCF has two exclusives this year: Star power shines through the likes of Tiffany Haddish who brings her stand-up to the State Theatre on April 25 and the Enmore Theatre on April 26. And, if you loved the 2024 Netflix hit Baby Reindeer, catch its creator Richard Gadd for a special in-conversation event at the Sydney Opera House on May 11. Consider your funny bone officially tickled. We’re super happy to report that the Sydney Comedy Festival Comedy Crawl is back with six offerings across top-notch bars. Led by a stellar host, you will join a group and proceed to sip and laugh your way from one bar to the next for bite-sized comedy sets. All sessions sold out in 2025, so get in quick.  Love seeing multiple acts in one night? The Comedy Gala is for you – with a massive show at the Sydney Opera House and the closing event at Enmore Theatre. Also returning is Comedy Gala on the Green at Darling Harbour's Tumbalong Park on April 18, with global superstars and the delightful Guy Montgomery as host. Make sure to return the very next day for the outdoor comedy showcase Great Laugh in the Park (April 19). Kids will get a hoot out of seeing ABC Kids' Giggle and Hoot host Jimmy Rees OAM and their fave...
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La Ronde

  • Redfern
La Ronde
La Ronde
Photograph: Supplied | La Ronde
If you’re looking for a night out where serotonin is dialled up to the max – it’s a seat at The Grand Electric. La Ronde is a cheeky, jaw-dropping performance hitting the intimate stage in Surry Hills this autumn. It has wowed audiences in Adelaide, Newcastle, Darwin, Auckland and Sydney, and now it’s now back in town for a second season.  The high-adrenaline affair made waves as one of the must-see shows of the Adelaide Fringe – clocking up an immense amount of five-star reviews in the process. While some of the other shows by the same creators, like Blanc de Blanc, are a little more risquĂ©, La Ronde is a fun night out for anyone over 15.  Live music sets the stage for some gravity-defying stunts and glitzy disco fever. There’s so much variety in the show that it’s got something for everyone from avid theatre-goers to couples on date night. With a super interactive ringside experience, it also serves as the ultimate group night out where bubbles and gasps flow generously.  Catch La Ronde at The Grand Electric in Surry Hills until May 10. Tickets start from $86 and you can get yours here. 
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Ron Mueck: Encounter

  • Art
  • Sculpture and installations
  • Sydney
Ron Mueck: Encounter
Ron Mueck: Encounter
Photograph: Supplied | Art Gallery of NSW
The Art Gallery of New South Wales is one of our fave places to hang out year-round – and this December it welcomes a banging new exhibition from Melbourne-born artist Ron Mueck. Ron Mueck: Encounter is the artist’s largest exhibition ever in Australia, bringing together a stunning selection of his hyperreal human sculptures from around the globe.  The life-like and scaled up sculptures aim to challenge perceptions by offering a profound and observational look at the human experience. Grounded in realism, the captivating figures tenderly embody themes such as birth, death, alienation and togetherness.  After making his start in children’s television, Mueck trained under Jim Henson (The Muppets) in puppeteering and model making where he made a name for himself on major projects including Sesame Street and the film Labyrinth. Soon after he relocated to London to run his own animatronic studio, before finding his way to figurative sculptures in the late ‘90s and revitalising the medium.  Ron Mueck: Encounter runs daily from December 6 to April 12, 10am–5pm, and until 10pm on Wednesday nights, as part of the Sydney International Art Series, a government initiative that teams up with Destination NSW to bring the world’s most prolific artists exclusively to Sydney. Tickets are $35 for adults on weekdays, $37 on weekends and public holidays, with two-for-one Art After Hours deals on Wednesday evenings, or $45 flexi tickets (which are un-dated single entry tickets). You can book...
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